Medal Cheats

Gordon is wearing a Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (VCM) that he did not earn.

Notice in the photograph he is wearing this set of medals:

The medal he has not earned is shown below:

Here is the criterion to wear the VCM.

Eligibility

The Australian Government maintained the basic qualifying criteria specified by the Republic of Vietnam for allied troops. To be eligible for the medal a person must have completed a minimum period of 181 days, either continuous or aggregated, unless:

• killed on active service (KIA);• wounded in action i.e. classified as a Battle Casualty andevacuated as a result of those wounds; or• captured and later released or escaped.

Note that medical evacuation from the area of operations for any reasons other than wounds received in action does not constitute an exemption from meeting the minimum qualifying period.

Gordon served and carried out some hard work in Vietnam, but he served for only 72 days as shown on the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) Vietnam Nominal Roll.

He was medically evacuated home as a Non Battle Casualty. See below:

All Vietnam Veterans are aware of the VCM criterion, yet we have a constant stream of offenders brought to our attention.

If you are silly enough to flaunt the rules, we will find you, and expose you as a medals cheat, just as we have Kevin Stephen Gordon and many others.

This is published in the public interest, veterans of all conflicts, in particular that of the Vietnam Veteran Community. All information presented here is fact and the truth. Reports from the private citizens are supported by statement of fact and statutory declarations.

Persons appearing on our site that are now deceased will not be removed, but the case will have the word "Deceased" placed next to their name when we are advised.

George papa of Perth, Western Australia was photographed marching on ANZAC Day, Perth in 2013. It is clear that he served as a National Serviceman and in the Army Reserves from the tin medals he is wearing in the photo below.

However, he did not serve in the Army Reserves to be awarded the Reserve Force medal, which is for 15 years service. Papa, to embellish his military service has purchased an unofficial medal to show that he did serve in the Citizen Military Forces. He has also purchased an unofficial National Service Medal and he still wears that, even though he has been awarded the official National Service Medal.

George Papa, for your lack of respect to other servicemen and women and the protocols of wearing medals you have earned a right to appear on this site.

This is published in the public interest, veterans of all conflicts, in particular that of the Vietnam Veteran Community. All information presented here is fact and the truth. Reports from the private citizens are supported by statement of fact and statutory declarations.

Persons appearing on our site that are now deceased will not be removed, but the case will have the word "Deceased" placed next to their name when we are advised.

Richard Wayne Rickard was a National Serviceman who served in Vietnam with 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. As is the case with most Infantry soldiers who served in Vietnam, he was a “Front Line” soldier. On ANZAC Day, 25 April 1969 he was “wounded in action” by a land mine. On that day, Australians were remembering the legends of all our past veterans and Rickard was adding to the legend on the front line of a war.

We are not happy to include Rickard on our web site but, he has chosen to add to his medals rack, a piece of self-purchased “Tin Junk”, known as the Front Line Medal.

Rickard is wearing the coveted and legitimate Infantry Combat Badge (ICB) which is all that is needed to indicate that he was a “front line” soldier.

We recognize Rickard as a true front line soldier, but condemn him for breaking tradition and protocols, by wearing the abominable medal as if it had honour and meaning.

Here is the offending Medal known as the "Frontline Medal" from the World War 2 era and Rickard’s offending rack.

We repeat the advice that we have given before – ONLY PROPERLY AWARDED OR APPROVED DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE MEDALS ARE WORN ON THE LEFT SIDE.

This is published in the public interest, veterans of all conflicts, in particular that of the Vietnam Veteran Community. All information presented here is fact and the truth. Reports from the private citizens are supported by statement of fact and statutory declarations.

Persons appearing on our site that are now deceased will not be removed, but the case will have the word "Deceased" placed next to their name when we are advised.

Ex-service organisations sometimes commission their own unofficial medals to mark participation in particular military campaigns, periods of service or types of service that have not been recognised through the Australian honours system. Awards made by foreign governments which have not been approved by the Governor-General for acceptance and wear are also "unofficial". There is no impediment to wearing such medals in appropriate private settings, such as a meeting of the relevant ex-service association, or a reception hosted by the relevant foreign government. Ideally, unofficial medals should not be worn at public ceremonial and commemorative events, but if they are worn as the occasion demands, the convention is that they are worn on the right breast.

Steve Wright you have earned a place on the Medals Cheat Page.

Update 5 Sep 2013

Further Information has come to hand regarding Steve WRIGHT and the wearing of the United Nations Medal Somalia which he has no entitlement to, as can be seen in the inquiry below.

HMAS Jervis Bay was a Training ship and Troop Transport delivering supplies and troops to Somalia only and not assigned to the United Nations Operation in Somalia. His only awards entitlement is the Australian Active Service Medal 1975 clasp Somalia and the Australian Defence Force medal.

Inquiry into Recognition of Australian Defence Force Service in Somalia between 1992 and 1995

The Tribunal considered a range of recognition issues relating to ADF service in Somalia, including a campaign medal, awarding of the Australian Active Service Medal to HMA Ships TOBRUK and JERVIS BAY and recognition for 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment.

Submissions closed on 24 August 2009.

The report was presented to the then Minister for Defence (MINDEF) on 5 July 2010. On 16 July 2010 MINDEF advised the Chair that the Government had accepted the following recommendations in this matter:

The Tribunal recommends that the original CGS Commendation not be upgraded to that of a MUC.

The Tribunal recommends that a campaign medal for service in Somalia 1992-1995 not be struck.

The Tribunal recommends the upgrade of the ASM (Clasp SOMALIA) that was awarded to HMAS Tobruk ship’s company to the award of the AASM (Clasp SOMALIA).

The Tribunal recommends that HMAS Jervis Bay ship’s company be awarded the AASM (Clasp SOMALIA).

The Tribunal recommends that members of HMAS Tobruk or HMAS Jervis Bay deployed to Somalia between 1992 and 1993 not be considered for the award of the UN Medal because they were not assigned to the United Nations nor did they meet the 90 day eligibility criteria.

The Tribunal recommends that the Australian Government not approach the UN to alter the eligibility criteria for the UN Medal.

The Tribunal recommends that a Meritorious Unit Citation not be considered for the Australian Service Contingent of UNOSOM II.

The Tribunal recommends no changes be made to the current policy of one award per operational service.

The Tribunal recommends that no further consideration of additional distinguished service awards be made for either UNITAF or UNOSOM II.

The Tribunal recommends that no changes be made to the extant policy for visitors or members not force assigned.

On 18 April 2011 the Government announced its acceptance of the Tribunal’s recommendations.

This is published in the public interest, veterans of all conflicts, in particular that of the Vietnam Veteran Community. All information presented here is fact and the truth. Reports from the private citizens are supported by statement of fact and statutory declarations.

Persons appearing on our site that are now deceased will not be removed, but the case will have the word "Deceased" placed next to their name when we are advised.

Patrick Armstrong JP., founder of the United Irish Ex Services Association of Australia attended the Cenotaph ceremony in Martin Place, Sydney on ANZAC Day 2012 and gave a speech.

On the 24th October 2012, at the same place, he gave the Irish Peacekeeper speech in relation to Ireland’s peace keeping operations since 1958, at the invitation of the UN (United Nations) Association at their annual ceremony.

He is wearing one un-official medal, the Emergency Services medal commonly referred to as a Tin Medal.

Below is the official Emergency Services Medal.

He is also wearing three State New South Wales Corrective Services medals on his left breast. The only medal he is entitled to wear on his left breast is the Federal awarded National Medal being the first medal from the left as you look at the photo.

State medals are worn on the right breast as advised by the Department of Honours and Awards. You will not see any State awards listed in the “Order of Wearing Medals” published 2007.

Ex-service organizations sometimes commission their own unofficial medals to mark participation in particular military campaigns, periods of service, or types of service that have not been recognized through the Australian honours system.

Awards made by foreign governments which have not been approved by the Governor-General for acceptance and wear are also "unofficial".

There is no impediment to wearing such medals in appropriate private settings, such as a meeting of the relevant ex-service association, or a reception hosted by the relevant foreign government.

Ideally, unofficial medals should not be worn at public ceremonial and commemorative events, but if they are worn as the occasion demands, the convention is that they are worn on the right breast.

Uniformed services

Members of a uniformed service should wear their insignia on their uniformin accordance with the dress regulations of the particular service.

NOTE: It states uniform not civilian dress

This is published in the public interest, veterans of all conflicts, in particular that of the Vietnam Veteran Community. All information presented here is fact and the truth. Reports from the private citizens are supported by statement of fact and statutory declarations.

Persons appearing on our site that are now deceased will not be removed, but the case will have the word "Deceased" placed next to their name when we are advised.

BERMINGHAM carved a reputation throughout all his years as a regular volunteer soldierparticularly in most forms of parachuting - testament to the inordinate number of jumps he made is the recorded hospitalisations due to injuries allied with this hazardous past time.

Whilst this man put himself in danger many times he has now earned the chagrin of many of his contemporaries because of his wearing of the Vietnamese Campaign Medal - a foreign award made to all allies who served more than 181 days in South Vietnam. The only reason any veteran would receive this award who served less than the prescribed time would be because of being Killed In Action (KIA), Casualty Evacuated (CASEVAC) due to being Wounded in Action (WIA) or being taken Prisoner of War (POW).

Documentary evidence shows BERMINGHAM arrived in Vietnam on the 4th of June 1966 - and returned to Australia on 1st September 1966 following medical evacuation for what can be deduced as a skin problem - on 10 October 1966 his medical Physical Employment Standard (PES) was downgraded from Forward Everywhere (FE - Class 1) to CZNT (Communication Zone Non Tropical) - Unfit to serve in hot/humid environment

Numerous Vietnam veterans posted to Vietnam for a standard 12 month period were brought home early due to medical problems with skin ailments - the climate and hygiene conditions were not suited to their health.

BERMINGHAM was awarded the Infantry Combat Badge (ICB) on 3 August 1971 and the Vietnam Medal on the 15th of September 1971 -The Department of Veterans' Affairs nominal roll of Vietnam Veterans' shows clearly that BERMINGHAM spent a total of 88 days in South Vietnam - well under the qualifying 181 days to be awarded the Vietnamese Campaign Medal - as he was medically evacuated due to a skin problem he has absolutely no entitlement to be wearing the award - we can only assume that like many of his contemporaries who appear on this website that BERMINGHAM has purchased the medal to satisfy some urge to make himself look more of a man - and one must ask why would a veteran who has a proven record of sky diving life threatening situations step out of line and lower himself as a wannabe??

ANZMI see his actions as indefensible and deem him a medal offender. Gene BERMINGHAM - welcome to the www of medal cheats

This is published in the public interest, particularly that of the Vietnam Veteran Community. All information presented here is fact and the truth. Reports from the private citizens are supported by statement of fact and statutory declarations.